Mail-box.



C. C. KLINGAMAN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1914.

1,150,039. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

'WITNEJJEZ) IN'VENT RJ COLUMBIA PLANUORAPH :0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

. MAIL-BOX. I

CHARLES o. .KLINGAMA or wrlvrnnsn'r, IOWA.

.. Specification of Letters Pate nt.

Patented Aug.17, 1e15 lipplicationfiled February 24, 1914. Serial 0. 820,380.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. KLINGA- MAN, a citizen of. the United States, residing in Winterset, county of Madison, andState of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification. V

The object of my invention is to provide a mail box, particularly adapted for rural mail routes, in which a false bottom will be provided near the top of the box when the cover is raised but when the cover is closed the false bottom collapses and drops the mail into the box. 7

This construction provides a box which cannot be pilfered or tampered with because the raising of the cover closes the box above the mail which has been placed therein and deposited in the bottom in themanner set forth. I

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I shows'a perspective view of the upper portion of my mail box; Fig. II shows a sectional view of my mail box, a

portion of the body being broken away; and

Figs. III and IV show detail views of the side'door of my. mail box.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 10 is used to indicate the body portion of my mail box and the numeral 11, the hinged cover therefor, an outgoing mail receptacle 12 being provided thereon, as shown. Rigidly secured'to the inside of the cover slightly above 1ts hinged connection 13, and extending downwardly therefrom parallel with and close against the rear wall of the box, is a metal, or like,

member 14, thelength of which is not as great as the width of the box. This member is practically as wide as the length of the box andmoves with the cover. Hinged to the front of thebox, on the inside thereof, is a second metal, or like, member 15 the I width of which is practically as great as the length of the box. These'two members, 14 and 15, are joined on each side of a rod, or arm, 16,'loosely secured near the upper end of the member 14 and depending slightly downward on an angle to a loose connection with the member 15. The point at which it is secured to the member 15 is determined'by such mathematical precision as will permit its upward limit of the two members 14 and 15 to passeach other in thelr'upward movement,their upper position bein hown by the dotted lines 1 in Fig. II. I

In practical operation the parts are in the position shown in Fig. II when the cover is closed. The opening of the cover causes the member 14 to be elevated and this action moves the rod 16 rearwardly thus elevating the member 15. When the cover has reached members 14 and 15 arein the position shown by the dottedlines in Fig. II, and as the members 14 and 15 are of such added length as will be greater than the width of the box, a perfect false bottom, ortray, on which mail may be deposited is provided. It is obvious that the closing of the lid drops the movement the rods and members 14 and 15 to their positions as [and cover hinged thereto; a depending member hinged to the inside of the front of the 7 box and near the top thereof; a second member fixed to the cover and extending downwardly therefrom along the inside of the back of the box; rods between the said mem bers, said rods having loose connections at their ends with said members and so arranged that the opening of the cover carrying with it the member near the rear of the box elevates the member hinged to the forward part of the box, the two members passing each other and assuminga horizontal plane overlapping each other.

2. A mail box including a body portion and a hinged closure, a' depending member. hinged to the inside of the front of said body portion near its upper edge, a depending second member fixed to said closure, near its hinged edge, rods between saidsmembers, having loose connection therewith, at the rod ends, said rods being arranged with respect to said depending members and closure whereby, by opening the latter, the former will be moved upwardly and past each other, and caused to assume a horizontal position overlapping each other.

3. In combination with a mail box having a hinged closure, a member hinged to the front of the box, a second member rigidly secured to the cover so as tomovetherewitn and means connected to the second member and to the first member slightly above the coverhinge whereby upon opening of the COVGISELlCl members will be caused-tooverlap, and said means will occupy a horizontal position in a plane parallel to the plane in which the members overlap.

V l. In combination with a mail box hav- 7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for members,

five cents each, addressing the' Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. (3.? i a 

